Father's Military Service Inspires Daughter's Kindness

By Correspondent Carrie Allen

CLINTON---The seeds of Kids of America’s Heroes (K.O.A.H.) were sown long ago, on a cold December
morning when Maria Phillips’ father, then a student at UCONN, heard the news that rocked this country from its foundation - Pearl Harbor had been bombed. Like one in four young men in the U.S. then, Maria’s father enlisted and he went on to serve in the Army Air Corps. Many years later, Maria would take her own impressive action to serve others in a time of need.

Michael T. Phillips trained as a navigator and became a part of the B-17 Flying Fortress, in which men flew
raids in non-pressurized cabins that could drop to 40 below zero. After completing thirty missions, 25 missions over Germany, five over Belgium and France, he returned home to finish school.

He became a dentist, settled in Norwich and raised four children. An upstanding man in the community, he often treated patients free of charge rather than let them live with pain, but unbeknownst to everyone outside his family, he lived with pain every day, as did his wife and children. Maria remembers the screaming, and the night terrors, migraines and the deep depression. Her mother called it “shell shock” but today we know it as PTI and PTSD. Maria’s father died in 2012.

At that time Maria felt compelled to create a non-profit that would support veterans, but in her
careful research of the many veterans’ organizations, she discovered that no organization advocated for either the children of active duty members or the children of the deployed National Guard and Reservists.

Active duty military often reside on military bases where there are programs for the children
built into their schools, scout groups, and community centers. However, the children of the Guard and Reservists don’t reside on military bases and are instead scattered across the country, lacking the support and the community of the military. It was this group that became the focus of K.O.A.H.’s advocacy.

Maria Phillips along with Jason Burke, retired Captain in United States Navy, both managing founders of the non-profit, initially kept their organization under wraps because they were both employed at Quinnipiac University and felt their loyalty should remain there.

Fortunately, Quinnipiac is a yellow ribbon school, military friendly, and has been identified as one of the best private schools in the country for veterans and their families.

Now, three years later both Maria and Jason feel that KOAH is extremely successful based on the responses from across the country as a registered 501(c)(3) public charity project of United Charitable. They are upstarting tele-conferencing/ Facetime therapy sessions for the children of veterans, proven to be as successful as much more expensive in-office sessions. Further, they are encouraging those interested in helping to complete 30 hours of clinical work necessary to become therapists or social workers, so they can help these children who are suffering
from fear, anticipatory grief, depression and the collateral damage of parental PTSD and TBI.

In November, the two will speak to Yale/New Haven Hospital’s Pediatric Faculty regarding this
childhood trauma.

“Bear Hugs by KOAH” has become a huge incentive for those at KOAH. This unique program strives to
deliver a monthly care package to all children of those who are currently serving. Children receive such care
packages as long as their parents serve. KOAH is receiving a great deal of help on this project from various sources, including the Emblem Club, a division of the Elks in Westbrook.

Though the KOAH board is a small one, they are part of large fundraising events. As a Yellow Ribbon
Approved partner of the National Guard, they attend pre-deployment seminars and offer support to children whose parents are about to be deployed. They are also included in the TPC Birdie Project and the CT Open, which a donated a portion of tickets to KOAH.

On September 29, KOAH hosts the Third Annual Poker Run from June’s Outback in Killingworth, where
they will also feature a $20,000 Dice Roll. For a small entrance fee, all have a chance to win.

Maria Phillips says that she loves advocating for the children, but that she is heartbroken to
know the stories she knows. She lives in Clinton with her family.

K.O.A.H. is always looking for your help, for your time, for in kind donation, and for
contributions. You can get in touch with them through their website https://koah.wedid.it/ Their facebook page https://www.facebook.com/KidsOfAmericasHeroes/ Website KOAHUSA.org

Photos at Top, left to right:

Maria Phillips, founding manager of Kids of America's Heroes. Operation Elf at National Guard Armory, December, 2017. Jason Burke, founding manager of KOAH. Photos courtesy of KOAH.